Buying an ADO16? Well if you are it should be both an enjoyable
experience for you, and start of a long happy relationship between you
and your car. Providing that is you've read up on the topic, and have
an idea what to look out for when buying an ADO16.

Ever heard about the guy who purchased an 1100 for £1000 then spent a
further £3000 having it restored?

It sadly is the case when some owners have purchased their 1100's.
Below you'll find a buying guide that points out some of the key areas
you should be looking at when purchasing an ADO16.

Looking
for an ADO16

There are many places for advertising your car now. A favourite
amongst owners at the moment is the on-line auctions. While you can
pick up a bargain its important to remember if you bid without going
to look at the car you could end up with a heap! Therefore I'd
recommend you try local advert papers, and classic car magazines. You
aren't entering into a binding contract like you are in the auction
room, and you can see and try before you buy.

Tools

I'd
recommend taking a few tools when you go to look at a car, all will
become clear later on. By taking tools, it shows the seller you are
serious and will check out the key areas before making the decision,
it also tells you what the quality of the car is.

Take the following: A Jack, something to kneel on, a torch, and a
bottle of water (can be still or fizzy - your choice).

The day of inspection

You've arranged to meet the seller today to take a look at a possible
purchase. Here's where we use our trusty tool kit above, and follow
the steps below.

Cover
sills

Firstly, check for cover sills. This type of sill is usually fitted by
M.O.T centres doing an in house repair to pass the M.O.T test. The
owner is then advised to get the repair done properly. In some cases
these are left on.

They weld over the top of the existing sills and sill to floor closing
panels. covering in the rotting metal. Once fitted, the metal sweats
and attracts more moisture allowing more to set in. This time it
affects the inner sill which provides rigidity for the bodywork.

The check: The only way to check this is to kneel down, and look
underneath. If the sill panel, and follow on, are all one piece and
weld about halfway onto the floor, you have a classic case of a cover
sill. There are however exceptions. Sometimes genuine sill panels were
welded on, followed by a "repair" floor section. This should still be
treated in the same way.

If a genuine sill is fitted, also check this for any rot that may need
replacing. Be sure to check the Sill to floor closing panel too.

If the car has these on, I'd walk away unless you are prepared to
spend approx £600 each side to remove them.

See picture below to see a cover sill (shown left) and a genuine sill
structure (shown right).

The
red arrow shows where the cover sill is welded on the floor pan. The
green arrow shows where a genuine sill to floor closing panel should
be welded.

Floor
pan

The
floor, quite important if you plan to go out in your 1100 at some
stage. Therefore an inspection will tell you if there are any urgent
problems.

The floor can be repaired, and it is possible to get pattern panels,
although these can be complex to weld in, and again it can be a costly
procedure.

The check: You'll need to remove the back seat base, and lift the rear
carpet, and any felt underneath. You can usually see if you have any
problems very quickly. Look to see if there are any "rust bulges". If
there are. Assume that these will be a problem.

See pictures below for typical places for holes to form.

Rear
subframe mountings

While you are examining the floor, it might be worth just casting your
eyes over the rear subframe mountings at the point where there are
rubber bungs in the corners of where the back seat base fits.

These again can be repaired, although "the check" will confirm a few
things.

The check: It advisable to check that 4 rubber grommets are inserted
into the holes (two each side). If the appear not be seated correctly
it might be worth further investigation. If they are missing, and one
of the studs is sticking through the hole then there could a problem
with the Heelboard or one of the mountings.

See below for a picture of where to look.

Heelboard

This
is a key area to examine. You'll need something to kneel on at this
point, and perhaps something gentle to prod at the heelboard. If you
hold a hammer head, and use the shaft this usually gives you a guide.

Heelboards can be replaced, but it can be a costly job, and requires
removing the rear subframe.

The check: Kneel down just behind where the sill joins the wheelarch
at the rear. When you look forward you'll be able to see the side of
the subframe. In front of that is the heelboard gently press with the
hammer shaft, if the hammer goes through this section then you have an
M.O.T failure.

See below for a picture of where to look:

Boot
floor

Again, perhaps one of the common areas that perspective owners
overlook. It is important to remember that the rear subframe is held
in by two brackets welded to the boot floor, and any serious signs of
rot in the boot floor should be considered as a big job.

Boot floors can be repaired or replaced, but requires the subframe and
petrol tank to be taken down.

The check: Lift the boot lid, and remove the false boot floor. take
out the spare wheel, and using a torch examine to see if there are
previous repairs or areas of rust that are starting to come through.
If caught earlier enough they can be repaired.

See below for pictures of what to look for:

The
picture shown on the left is no longer a legal repair. If a car you
visited had a repair like this then it would most certainly be an
M.O.T failure. The correct repair is shown on the right. Although the
correct repair on completed car wouldn't shown in grey undercoat.

Inner
wings

The
Inner wing on the 1100 is an important part of the structure. You have
to remember that the subframe bolts to these in two places, and if
there is any sign of rust of bodged repairs you could be in for a
nasty shock when its M.O.T time.

Like most other panels, the Inner wings can be replaced, but it can
sometimes be tricky to get them fit correct, and make sure that
everything lines up.

The check: Open the bonnet, and check for signs of rusting to the tops
of the inner wings. Any rust on the tops is an M.O.T failure. Some
people have repaired previously, but some M.O.T testers are keen on
bodged repairs. If only light surface rusting, its important to get it
cleaned back and painted as soon as possible.

See below for pictures of what to look for:

Trumpets

The
trumpets work in connection with the inner wing. Without trumpets on
the inner wing to give the front support it becomes very fragile, and
it is likely to get damaged. If you see any bodged repairs on these,
then you have a challenge to try and replace them with the wings in
place. Its a hard task.

Trumpets are remanufactured for the 11/1300 and its relatively easy to
get hold of them. However the only problem is fitting them. It
requires either struggling to try and do it with the wing in position
or if the wing needs replacing the job becomes a lot easier.

The check: You'll need your hammer shaft again, and gently push on the
trumpets. This checks to see if water has rotted them away. If your
hammer shaft goes through them, you can still buy the car, but be
warned, at the next M.O.T its a failure.

Checklist

This
checklist will summarise the areas of importance given above, and will
include some other areas you should check before making your mind up.

Item

Yes

No

N/A

Sills checked?

Floor pan checked?

Rear subframe mountings checked?

Heelboard checked?

Boot floor checked?

Inner wings checked?

Trumpets checked?

Unusal noises when driving? i.e.
Clunking or grinding?

Suspension problems? i.e. Does the
car not sit level? Is there no bounce?

Damage to any panels? i.e. due to
rusting or due to accident damage.

Oil leaks? i.e. Large drips of oil
on the floor?

Brake problems? i.e. do the brakes
fade?

Make sure you have a test drive, if the car is driveable! The main reason is once you've driven a car day in
day out you learn how to stop gears scrunching etc.